Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Chinese Checkers



Contrary to popular beliefs, the Chinese Checkers actually has nothing to do with China. In fact it is just a version of Halma, a board game invented by George Howards Monks, a Harvard Medical School's surgeon, in 1883 - 1884.

The name Chinese Checkers was given - in 1928 - by Bill & Jack Pressman, the owners of J. Pressman & Co., the company that popularized the game. Previously, the game was called Hop Ching Checker Game. It was first patented by Ravensburger, a German games company, under the name Stern-Halma in 1892, only a few years after Halma appeared.

Like any board games, the Chinese Checker is a mind-engaging occupation. It's fun to play when you have nothing important to do like these men.

4 comments:

Leif Hagen said...

It's been a longggg time since I played "Chinese checkers" as a kid! Fun foto!

Photo Cache said...

neat trivia, i learn every day.

i don't know how to play that, haven't played that ever.

Life in Egypt said...

Sounds like a waste of time to me.
like the Egyptians play dominoes
nothing else to do. only argue over the game,

Dina said...

It's a nice picture.
I remember the game from childhood in America.
It must be nice to have nothing to do. ;)